Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader since 1989, has been at the center of global attention following conflicting reports of his death in joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on February 28, 2026. President Donald Trump announced Khamenei was killed, calling it "justice" and the "single greatest chance" for Iranians to reclaim their country. Israeli officials told multiple outlets, including Reuters, The Washington Post and AP, that Khamenei's body was found after a direct hit on his Tehran compound. However, Iranian state media and officials, including Tasnim, Mehr and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, insist he remains "steadfast and firm in commanding the field," with no independent confirmation of his fate amid communication blackouts and restricted access.
The 86-year-old cleric has shaped modern Iran for nearly four decades, overseeing its nuclear program, foreign policy and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Here are 10 essential facts about Khamenei amid the ongoing crisis.
